Tel Aviv's Newest Luxury Hotel Takes You Back In Time

The Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s newest five-star luxury hotel, revives the airy grandeur of the ancient world by skilfully blending historical and modern aesthetics, creating an extraordinary property located in Jaffa, one of Tel Aviv’s most vibrant neighborhoods. The property is a combination of a historic 19th-century French hospital and monastery and an adjoining new building. Under the guidance of local conservationist architect Ramy Gill and a team of restoration experts the neoclassical building was painstakingly restored over the course of a decade. The hotel is the latest luxury offering from New York-based hotel and real estate company RFR Holding, founded by Aby Rosen, and it is operated by Marriott’s The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. For Rosen, The Jaffa is a very personal project. It has also been his longest project to date (Rosen also owns Gramercy Park Hotel and 11 Howard in New York and W South Beach in Miami).

The Jaffa Lobby with 13th century wallAmit Geron

Rosen saw this property as a unique opportunity to develop a remarkable hotel and personally recruited architect John Pawson to bring a minimalist interpretation to the classical monastery building. Guestrooms are bathed in natural light and some boast ceilings as high as 20 feet. “Our team has worked over a decade to conceive and deliver what I feel is the best hotel in Israel," says Rosen, "I have never worked so hard on any project and with so much satisfaction.”

The ChapelAmit Geron

History is everywhere. Indeed, while digging for the project, the team uncovered the outer wall of a fortress from the crusader's era (13th century). The ancient wall is now the centerpiece of the hotel lobby. Today, guests can idle over a game of sheshbesh backgammon---one of the traditional games in Jaffa-- or simply sip a cocktail and savor the hotel’s panoramic Mediterranean views as well as sweeping views of Jaffa’s ancient port

The hotel offers 120 hotel rooms and suites, 32 luxury residences as well as an outdoor pool, and L. Raphael luxury treatment and beauty spa, fitness center, a sheshbesh backgammon lounge, Tamarindi boutique store, and two signature restaurants that are being operated by the acclaimed New York-based Major Food Group. Below, Aby Rosen reflects on the project and what it means for travelers. The property opened this week.

Why did you select this location for the hotel?

Tel Aviv is the most lively, dynamic, cultural city in Israel, and the Old City of Jaffa its crown jewel. I saw an opportunity to restore an architecturally distinguished former 19th-century neo-renaissance French hospital with a spectacular chapel and complement it with new contemporary architecture creating a beautifully landscaped courtyard surrounded by the two. When I saw this unique property, I could not pass it up.

What about this project is so personal for you?

Many of my family live in Tel Aviv. Growing up in Frankfurt and with a wartime family history, I was instilled with an emotional responsibility to the State of Israel. I feel strongly that Israel requires investment and upgrades to its hospitality industry to continue to make it a world-class destination. It needs five-star hotels with luxury services and amenities, great restaurants and curated experiences.

Is there one feature in the hotel that you love most of all?

There are so many special surprises when you develop a once in a lifetime project like this. We took advantage of the many discoveries in the 19th-century structure and excavations of the 13th-century bastion walls the hotel sits on top of. Working with John Pawson on the design was a wonderful experience as well as with the Major Food Group on the restaurants. The commitment by many people to accomplish what we have cannot be overlooked. It was a great joy to have many of them share a victory lap in the amazing courtyard that has become the heart of the hotel and delivers the oxygen and energy throughout.

What is most surprising about this property?

What is most surprising is how one project can be so much a part of your life, have constant demands in seeking its perfection, and then in becoming a reality, offer so much gratification in seeing your guests' enchantment with the result.

Why should people have Tel Aviv on their travel bucket list?

Tel Aviv has it all; the Mediterranean, arts & culture, history, diversity, great food & beverage, sports, nightlife, beauty, and most of all an appreciation of life. What better place is there to live or visit.

The JaffaAmit Geron

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I’ve been trotting the globe in pursuit of wine, food and travel stories for over 16 years. From the vineyards of New Zealand to the press houses of Champagne, I’ve met a world of fascinating people who have stories to share. In between adventures I review restaurants for T...